'Intermission Is Over': Strand Theatre Reopens After 15 Months

MARIETTA, GA — After more than a year of shuttered doors, silent auditoriums and empty popcorn machines due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Earl and Rachel Smith Strand Theatre is finally reopening.

As Strand Theatre officials said in the reopening announcement, "Intermission is over."

Officials revealed a lineup of live concerts and movie screenings for the summer, starting with a Juneteenth commemoration screening of "Selma" on Saturday at 8 p.m., which coincides with the end of Cobb County's Juneteenth festivities across the street in Marietta Square.

A screening of "Fried Green Tomatoes" is scheduled Friday, June 25 at 8 p.m. Attendance at these first two screenings will be limited to 50 percent capacity to allow for social distancing, but full capacity returns in July.

Here's the July schedule with links to purchase tickets, which also includes an opportunity to see Marietta's Fourth of July parade with a rooftop view:

• July 2 at 8 p.m.: Street Fighting Band, a Rolling Stones tribute
  • General admission: $30
  • VIP (with early entry at 6 p.m.): $55
• July 3 at 9 a.m.: Bird's Eye Parade View
  • General admission: $15
• July 9 at 8 p.m.: "Glory"
  • Movie tickets: $9
• July 10 at 8 p.m.: Cobb Idol 2021 at Life University Amphitheater
  • General admission: $10
• July 16 at 8 p.m.: Sing-Along with Grease!
  • General admission: $10
• July 17 at 8 p.m.: Georgia Players Guild: The Music of the Eagles
  • General admission (advance purchase): $25
  • General admission (at the door): $30
  • VIP (with early entry at 6 p.m.): $55
• July 23 at 8 p.m.: Mamma Mia! and Margaritas
  • General admission: $10
• July 24 at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.: Mamma Mia! and Margaritas
  • General admission: $10
• July 30 at 8 p.m.: Departure: The Journey Tribute Band
  • General admission: $28
  • VIP (with early entry at 6 p.m.): $58
• July 31 at 8 p.m.: Strand Ole Opry's Walk the Line
  • General admission: $21
• Aug. 13-15, 20-22 at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.: Jukebox Giants: Motown & More
  • General admission: $20-$50
• Sept. 14-19 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.: Menopause The Musical
  • General admission: $39-$68

The nonprofit theater closed to the public in March 2020, but has been rented out since then for more than 130 private events and small, private movie screenings, the Marietta Daily Journal reported. These private ventures helped Strand Theatre stay afloat and avoid laying off any full-time staff.

Strand General Manager Andy Gaines told the MDJ that private reservations will be honored throughout June, which is why the June calendar only includes the two movie screenings.

For more information, visit earlsmithstrand.org or call 770-293-0080.